Guardiola opted to join German giants Bayern Munich on Wednesday, but the Spaniard insisted before the news broke that he would relish the challenge of working in England in a message prepared for the Football Association's 150th anniversary.

"As a player, I couldn't realise my dream to play there," Guardiola said.
"But I hope in the future I have a challenge to be a coach or a manager there and feel the experience of all the coaches and players that have been there.

"It is unique, to play in that league. I want to feel the supporters, the environment, the media and the style of the players.

"I am still young, just 41, so I hope in the future I could train there and enjoy that. I have always found English football very fascinating. The support of the home team is amazing.

"In Italy, Latin people will support you when you are playing and when you lose, they kill you. In England, I'm always surprised people always support everything and that is nice. That's why I hope to have the challenge to train there."

Guardiola's first experience of English football was in 1992 when he featured in Barcelona's European Cup win over Sampdoria and he admits there is plenty attracting him to the Premier League.

"I had the opportunity to play two finals at Wembley and that's why my relationship with England is pretty close," he said.
"I played there twice, once as a player when I was 19 and it was my first Champions League as a player, as Barcelona finally won the Champions League. It was a huge honour to play at the old Wembley.

"When I was manager of Barcelona, for our second Champions League in three years, it was a real pleasure to play in the new Wembley."